Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said that quality education cannot be achieved through privatization or financial incentives. He urged governments to invest more in education and strengthen public institutions, calling it a “foremost responsibility.”
Speaking to students at IIT Madras, Gandhi highlighted flaws in India’s education system and shared ideas for improvement. “We need to spend a lot more money on education and strengthening government institutions,” he said in a video shared on X (formerly Twitter).
During the conversation, Gandhi discussed redefining success and encouraging students to explore careers beyond traditional fields like engineering and medicine. “Our education system is very narrow. It measures success only if one becomes a doctor, engineer, or joins the IAS/IPS. This leaves out 90% of our population,” he said.
He also criticized the top-down approach of the current system. “I don’t think our education system allows the imagination of our children to thrive. It undervalues many professions and overvalues a few,” he said, adding that children should be free to explore multiple interests.
On the difference between Congress and BJP’s approach to governance, Gandhi said, “We (Congress) believe resources should be distributed more fairly and growth should be inclusive. The BJP, on the other hand, focuses on aggressive growth and trickle-down economics.”
Gandhi also addressed higher education, advocating for better support for research and innovation. “The best institutions in our country, like IIT Madras, are government institutions. Privatization and financial incentives do not guarantee quality education,” he stated.
Speaking about India’s role in international relations, Gandhi stressed the importance of balancing relations between the U.S. and China. “If India navigates this carefully, it can achieve more than its power would typically allow,” he noted.
He encouraged a shift toward practical innovation and production, saying, “Real innovation comes from production. Without it, R&D is just a budget.”
He concluded by saying that innovation should be encouraged through hands-on experience. “Real innovation comes from the physical production space. If you are not actually producing something, it will just be a budget,” Gandhi added.onsibility.”
